thistle

Etymology

From Old English þistel, from Proto-Germanic *þistilaz. *þīh- from *teyg-, which is a variant of Proto-Indo-European *steyg- (“to prick”); from this same Proto-Indo-European root comes English stick. Cognates include German Distel and Icelandic þistill.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /θɪsl̩/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -ɪsəl

Noun

thistle (plural thistles)

1. Any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera Cirsium, Carduus, Cynara or Onopordum, having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts.
   • 1611, Bible (King James Version):
     , Genesis 3:18:

     Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field [...].

2. This plant seen as the national emblem of Scotland.
3. (heraldry) This plant used as a charge.
4. The Order of the Thistle, or membership thereof.
   • 1978, Lawrence Durrell, Livia, Faber & Faber 1992 (Avignon Quintet), p. 324:

     Here's a passage which will please you: ‘It is said that when rich he twice refused the thistle.’

References

• thistle in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• thistle in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

• Hittles, Lettish, listeth, lithest, shittle